Landmark Volleyball Awards Announced
TOWSON, Md. – Juniata senior Marybeth Weihbrecht has been named Landmark Conference Volleyball Player of the Year and Moravian senior Jean Markovic the Specialist of the Year. Scranton's Kindler Norman was voted Rookie of the Year and Royals Head Coach Jamie Spangler and his staff were named Coaching Staff of the Year.
This marks the 10th time in the Landmark's 11-year history that a Juniata player has won the Player of the Year award.
A middle hitter, Weihbrecht led Juniata with more than two kills per set, and a hitting percentage of .352 through the regular season. She had a season-high 19 kills against Christopher Newport on September 22 and notched double-digit kills in 14 of the 29 regular season matches. Weihbrecht was also recognized with First Team honors for the first time in her career.
Markovic was a force to be reckoned with on the Moravian defense as libero. She finished the regular season with 5.19 digs per set while averaging 5.83 digs per set through six conference matches and ranks second all-time at Moravian with 2,230 digs. Markovic was also recognized with First Team honors for the first time in her career.
Norman ended the regular year with over 1,000 assists (1,168), a 9.82 per set average. Her 1,168 assists are the seventh most in a single season and ranks 10th for career. She also boasted 49 blocks in 33 regular season matches and was voted a First Team All-Conference selection.
Joinnig the trio on the First Team is Moravian senior Mary Zacher helped lead the Greyhounds to their first trip to the Landmark Conference Tournament since 2014. She finished her career fourth in school history with 1,491 kills and sixth in the Moravian record books with 1,506 digs.
Scranton junior Kristin Kirwan earned her second First Team nod this season. Kirwan helped the Royals to a 35-5 regular season record, the best in program history. She led the team with 501 kills, while adding 359 digs, 20 service aces, and 61 blocks in the regular season.
Susquehanna senior Morgan Lowe is another repeat selection, earning honors for the second straight season. The outside hitter racked up 3.86 kills per set in Landmark action and .314 hitting percentage.
Elizabethtown junior Mackenzie Garner has earned First Team honors in back-to-back seasons with 3.70 kills per set and .390 hitting percentage in the regular season.
Juniata junior Katie Byrne has been recognized on the First Team by the conference for the second time in her career after finishing with 4.93 digs per set, 533 overall in the regular season.
In his fifth season at the helm of the Royals, Head Coach Jamie Spangler has been voted Landamrk Conference Coach of the Year for the first time. This season, the Royals finished 35-6 overall and 5-1 in the Landmark.
The 2017 Landmark Volleyball All-Conference Teams:
| First Team |
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Second Team |
| Outside Hitter/Opposite |
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Outside Hitter/Opposite |
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| Mary Zacher |
Moravian |
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Sr. |
Allentown, Pa. |
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Patricia Martinez |
Catholic |
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Fr. |
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico |
| Kristin Kirwan * |
Scranton |
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Jr. |
Park Ridge, N.J. |
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Morgan Edwards |
Juniata |
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So. |
Lancaster, Pa. |
| Morgan Lowe & |
Susquehanna |
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Sr. |
Lancaster, Pa. |
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Victoria Taylor |
Juniata |
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Fr. |
Middletown, Del. |
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Sydney Portale |
Susquehanna |
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Fr. |
Glen Mills, Pa. |
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| Middle Hitter |
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Middle Hitter |
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| Mackenzie Garner & |
Elizabethtown |
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Jr. |
Huntingdon, Pa. |
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Megan Moroney * |
Juniata |
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Sr. |
Mentor, Ohio |
| Marybeth Weihbrect |
Juniata |
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Jr. |
Mechanicsburg, Pa. |
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Hannah Lyons |
Susquehanna |
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So. |
Eldersburg, Md. |
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| Setter |
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Setter |
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| Kindler Norman |
Scranton |
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Fr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
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Alyssa Tavera |
Juniata |
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Jr. |
Whittier, Calif. |
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| Libero/Defensive Specialist |
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Libero/Defensive Specialist |
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| Katie Byrne & |
Juniata |
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Jr. |
Annapolis, Md.. |
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Regina Schetroma |
Scranton |
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Fr. |
Downingtown, Pa. |
| Jean Markovic |
Moravian |
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Sr. |
Fountain Hill, Pa. |
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& 2016 First Team All-Landmark
* 2015 First Team All-Landmark
^ 2014 First Team All-Landmark